Top two may be vulnerable in Mizdirection

ARCADIA, Calif. – The fields are small and the feature race is shorter than originally scheduled Saturday at Santa Anita, traits that typify challenges that face Southern California racing.

Despite three-day racing weeks this week and next, and informal discussions among track officials that may include the idea of extending abbreviated weeks into late spring, nine races Saturday attracted just 59 entrants. Seven races drew six-horse fields, including the Mizdirection Stakes.

The $75,000 Mizdirection normally is at 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course, but officials suspended downhill racing following a March 31 fatality on the course. Instead, the Mizdirection is a five-furlong sprint for fillies and mares on the main turf oval.

Go On Mary and Painting Corners enter as the principals in the Mizdirection, race 6, though both mares face questions regarding current form. Go On Mary is making her first start since December; Painting Corners finished fourth both her starts this year.

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Four remaining Mizdirection entrants will try to exploit the vulnerability of the top choices. Leading alternatives are Gliding By, an impressive second-level allowance winner last out, and Poster Girl, who drops in class and shortens from 1 1/4 miles to a sprint. Two others in the field appear off form: Mongolian Shopper and front-runner Algorhythmic.

Conditions are ideal for Go On Mary to make a winning comeback. Although she has not started since Dec. 1, she runs well fresh and is effective at five furlongs. She also drew comfortably, outside possible pace rivals Algorhythmic and Painting Corners.

Doug O’Neill trains Go On Mary, who returns with a solid recent workout pattern at San Luis Rey. Rafael Bejarano rides the 4-for-23 mare. Front-running winner of a five-furlong turf stakes last summer at Del Mar, Go On Mary figures for either a front-running or pace-pressing trip from post 5.

Painting Corners is quick enough to establish position from the rail while making her third start of 2019. Trained by Peter Miller, Painting Corners ran fourth in her comeback, possibly compromised by a surface switch to dirt. Last out she chased a blazing pace and finished fourth in a race won by subsequent Group 1-placed stablemate Belvoir Bay. Joe Talamo rides Grade 3-placed Painting Corners.

If the pace collapses, then last-out allowance winner Gliding By could upset. Poster Girl pressed the pace last time in a Grade 3 route.